Sweet 16

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Mar 28, 2018
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Might be a little off topic here but could really use you guys help. We're having a sweet 16 dance for our daughter next weekend and the last thing we have left to do is a seating arrangement for everyone. We're seating for 300 people. My daughter is planning on having around 50 or so friends show up, maybe more. My wife has mentioned giving them there own seating area which would consists of table and chairs. I like the idea but I don't want to give them too many chairs and tables because I feel like if they all have a place to sit then they won't be out on the dance floor having a great time. I think about back in the day when attending my school dances, we didn't have many places to sit so it forced us to stand and be out on the dance floor. Not sure how they do things these days. I guess I don't want a bunch of high school kids there and just sitting around talking and not out there having fun.

In your experiences doing events what do you guys see and what do you recommend as far as seating for all the kids that show up? I'm not a professional DJ, more of a little hobby that I like to do at home for our own parties. I have a friend who is going to DJ the event, he did our wedding a few years back and was great. Had everyone out on the dance floor all night but it was mainly adults that attended Any advice would be much appreciated.
 
Might be a little off topic here but could really use you guys help. We're having a sweet 16 dance for our daughter next weekend and the last thing we have left to do is a seating arrangement for everyone. We're seating for 300 people. My daughter is planning on having around 50 or so friends show up, maybe more. My wife has mentioned giving them there own seating area which would consists of table and chairs. I like the idea but I don't want to give them too many chairs and tables because I feel like if they all have a place to sit then they won't be out on the dance floor having a great time. I think about back in the day when attending my school dances, we didn't have many places to sit so it forced us to stand and be out on the dance floor. Not sure how they do things these days. I guess I don't want a bunch of high school kids there and just sitting around talking and not out there having fun.

In your experiences doing events what do you guys see and what do you recommend as far as seating for all the kids that show up? I'm not a professional DJ, more of a little hobby that I like to do at home for our own parties. I have a friend who is going to DJ the event, he did our wedding a few years back and was great. Had everyone out on the dance floor all night but it was mainly adults that attended Any advice would be much appreciated.
In the teen events that I do, there has always been ample seating and it wasn't an issue. If the DJ is doing his/her job then it shouldn't matter. They should want to get up onto the dancefloor whether there are chair or not. I don't think there needs to be a chair for every single person, but some. If possible, maybe have some high top/bar top tables around the dancefloor. These give them some place to sit their drinks/food and still be on their feet close to the dancefloor.
 
It would depend on the structure of the meal for me. If you're doing heavy hors d'oeuvres where you expect small plates and guests to be fairly transient in how they move around the room... you can get away with more high top tables and less seating. If you're serving a meal, I think it's a frustrating experience not to have somewhere to sit and eat comfortably.

As a middle ground, you can always have some tables removed once the dancing portion of the event starts "to make more room" if you'd like. This would reduce the ability to sit after the dance floor opens up.

But if you have faith in your DJ to deliver a great time... I wouldn't stress about it. If having chairs in the room is a detractor from dancing, there are bigger problems going on. Deliver them a fun time and they will dance.
 
Might be a little off topic here but could really use you guys help. We're having a sweet 16 dance for our daughter next weekend and the last thing we have left to do is a seating arrangement for everyone. We're seating for 300 people. My daughter is planning on having around 50 or so friends show up, maybe more. My wife has mentioned giving them there own seating area which would consists of table and chairs. I like the idea but I don't want to give them too many chairs and tables because I feel like if they all have a place to sit then they won't be out on the dance floor having a great time. I think about back in the day when attending my school dances, we didn't have many places to sit so it forced us to stand and be out on the dance floor. Not sure how they do things these days. I guess I don't want a bunch of high school kids there and just sitting around talking and not out there having fun.

In your experiences doing events what do you guys see and what do you recommend as far as seating for all the kids that show up? I'm not a professional DJ, more of a little hobby that I like to do at home for our own parties. I have a friend who is going to DJ the event, he did our wedding a few years back and was great. Had everyone out on the dance floor all night but it was mainly adults that attended Any advice would be much appreciated.
Your bigger issue won't be the table arrangement, but rather if the facility has a lot of places the kids can escape or sneak off to. If they can get away and go outside or an unused part of the facility, then they just migrate there to get away from the adults. Most sweet 16's I do have security keeping them in the room or bathrooms and that's what makes the party more likely to succeed than seat arrangement.

So, I think it's safe to say that I've done more Sweet 16's than most on this forum, and I've seen everything from round tables with chairs to lounge furniture (sofas) to high tops like a bar... 90% of the time its round tables with a seat for every guest and dinner buffet. Kids on one side, adults on the other side (assuming dancefloor is in middle). As others have said, the reality is, you need a good dj that can give them the energy and the music they seek. Not to take anything away from your friend, but not all wedding dj's are good sweet 16 dj's... sweet 16's are a different animal with necessary knowledge of music that is relevant for a short period, as well as the need for quicker mixing and knowing the sweet spots of every song (usually kids only get excited for one part of the song and then they just stand there until another exciting part hits). Just take a look at the sweet 16 playlist from last month. When it came to dancing music I played 59 sings in 95 minutes... that's 1 song every minute and a half on avg, and I can tell you with the hip hop songs, songs were played for less than a minute.

Missing... cocktail "hour" and intros music
FIRST WARM UP DANCE SET (10 MIN)

Yeah (Clean)
Get Low (clean version)
Gasolina (Remix)
Hips Don't Lie
679 (Remy Boyz) (Clean)
RITMO (Bad Boys For Life) (Clean)
Body (R-You Break Intro) (Clean Extended)
Tap In (Dennis Blaze Hyphy ReWork) (Clean Extended)


DINNER (30 minutes)
When I Was Your Man
Beautiful Crazy (Clean)
The Best Is Yet To Come (feat. Count Basie and His Orchestra) [Remastered]
Forever After All (Clean)
Sixteen (Clean)
Perfect Duet (with Beyoncé)
Endless Love
America (Clean) (Radio Edit)
Night Changes
Cry Cry Cry (Clean)
Can't Take My Eyes Off You


OPEN DANCEFLOOR (ABOUT 45 MIN)
Dont Stop The Party (Clean)
I Love It (Clean)
Timber (Jump Smokers Remix DJDX V-Edit)(Radio Edit)
Danza Kuduro (Original)
Baby (Album Version)
I Wanna Dance With Somebody (The Cube Guys Mix)
You Belong to Me
Mo Bamba (Clean)
iSpy (Clean)
Broccoli (Joe Maz Remix) (Clean)
Truth Hurts (Clean)
Juju On That Beat (TZ Anthem)
Up (Muzik Junkies Party Starter) (Clean Extended)
Savage (Clean)
Roxanne (Clean)
Blinding Lights (Clean)
good 4 u (Clean)
Shake It Off (Original) (Clean)
Jordan Belfort (Clean)
Dan Bilzerian (feat. Lil Yachty)
Dark Knight Dummo (Clean)
GoldDigger (CLEAN)
Fancy (Clean)
Talk Dirty (Clean)
Dancing Queen

PAUSE FOR CANDLE CEREMONY and Singing Happy Bday (45 minutes)
BELOW IS BACKGROUND MUSIC DURING DESSERT BUFFETT

Sugar Pie Honey Bunch
Foundations- Why Do You Build Me Up Buttercup Baby
I Want Candy
ABC

REOPEN DANCEFLOOR (40 MIN DANCESET)
Cotton Eye Joe (Techno Remix) (REQUESTED)
I Will Survive (Classic Dance Remix) - Gloria Gaynor [128 Bpm] Clean
Low (Clean)
MOVE SHAKE DROP - REMIX
Calabria 2007
Hotel Room Service (good quality)
Shots (clean)
Like A G6
Fergalicious
Beauty And A Beat (Clean)
What Makes You Beautiful (DJ Jeff Hype Remix)
Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.) (Sidney Samson Club Mix)
Friday (Dopamine Re-Edit) (Clean Extended)
Angelo Venuto - Sweet Caroline
Everytime We Touch (Radio Mix)
Gangnam Style
Feel So Maybe - Jump Smokers Bootleg
Head & Heart (Clean Extended)
Clarity (Radio Mix)
Reload (Original Mix)
Rasputin (Original Mix)
Thot Sh*t (R-You House Remix) (Clean Extended)
Sexy And I Know It (Radio Edit)
No Hands (feat. Roscoe Dash and Wale) [Amended Album Version]
Pursuit Of Happiness (Steve Aoki Mix)
The Island (last song where I have everyone run in and hug the bday girl... not covid friendly... whoops)
 
@ Albatross and DJ Tasso: Excellent presentation information for this inquisitive DJ. As the "younger" generation and some "older" DJ need advice, we are here to assist. Great job!!
 
Thanks for all the info. I'm probably just over thinking everything. With the amount of money being spent I just want it to be a great time for my daughter. I ordered 100 of those LED light sticks, any other party items you guys would recommend to have at the event?
 
The number one thing is if the DJ is the right DJ for the event. That's what's really important. They will dance if the DJ is tight to the right. If not any party items anybody recommends won't matter. Taso is right about the DJ shouldn't let songs play too long because the kids attention span is not that long. They can get bored quickly.
 
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The number one thing is if the DJ is the right DJ for the event. That's what's really important. They will dance if the DJ is tight to the right. If not any party items anybody recommends won't matter. Taso is right about the DJ shouldn't let songs play too long because the kids attention span is not that long. They can get bored quickly.
I totally understand about having the correct DJ for the type of event. I'm 100% confident in his skills and he did mention to me before about not playing the songs too long and that it's those key spots that get the kids going. I recently went to a quince and the DJ who has been in the business for a good while did not do a good job. His music selection was horrible.
 
Thanks for all the info. I'm probably just over thinking everything. With the amount of money being spent I just want it to be a great time for my daughter. I ordered 100 of those LED light sticks, any other party items you guys would recommend to have at the event?
Don't give out those till much later in the night (peak hour or later), as they'll be on the floor and stay there within 5 minutes of giving them out. Kids get tired of holding them. Wearables like led necklaces, glasses, rings, and pacifiers (yes... pacifiers... they're a HUGE hit) are the popular items now.
 
Don't give out those till much later in the night (peak hour or later), as they'll be on the floor and stay there within 5 minutes of giving them out. Kids get tired of holding them. Wearables like led necklaces, glasses, rings, and pacifiers (yes... pacifiers... they're a HUGE hit) are the popular items now.
Thanks for that info, I'll definitely go that route.

It's been a rough month with my grandmother getting admitted into hospice care and passing away a week ago. Funeral homes are backed up so laying her to rest next week and then my daughters party is just a couple days later. Trying to deal with the final stages of the party and planning the services for my grandmother is not an easy task all while trying to give my daughter the best party we can. So thank you all for all the help and advice. I really appreciate it.
 
First let me say I understand the tough month thing. This has been my worst year yet. Also my father was in Hospis before he died. I visited him for the last night in the hospital before he died 4AM on a Saturday. That was the same day we had a gig to do. Both my parents are gone. Sorry to hear your grandmother died and right before this big party. Please let us know how it turned out.
 
Thanks for that info, I'll definitely go that route.

It's been a rough month with my grandmother getting admitted into hospice care and passing away a week ago. Funeral homes are backed up so laying her to rest next week and then my daughters party is just a couple days later. Trying to deal with the final stages of the party and planning the services for my grandmother is not an easy task all while trying to give my daughter the best party we can. So thank you all for all the help and advice. I really appreciate it.

Condolences, and sorry for your loss.
 
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The more you try to control kids of that age, the more they will do the exact opposite.
I wouldn't even have assigned seats for a Sweet 16. Just have enough tables and chairs for everyone, and the adults and kids will find their own way.
 
Taso you mentioned one of my favorite songs. Cotton Eye Joe. I love that song even though I'm Black. A lot of people think because I'm Black I'm not supposed to like such songs. Some friends of mine I know never heard of that song. Please if you didn't already let us know how the event turned out.
 
Taso you mentioned one of my favorite songs. Cotton Eye Joe. I love that song even though I'm Black. A lot of people think because I'm Black I'm not supposed to like such songs. Some friends of mine I know never heard of that song. Please if you didn't already let us know how the event turned out.

Good music doesn't have a genre or colour my friend